The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-19

mosphere of the plains, Sheep Mountain
| looked distant only half hours drive. But
| 1t was twilight before we camped on the
base, and we had travelled between twenty
and thirty miles. The headquarters OF two
| jack rabbits graced our spit that night, and
what with good appetites and free use OF
| salt and pepper our hungry Stomachs were
readily able to overcome the characteristic
| toughness and tension of these jacks We
| were glad enough to get them before our ex-
| petition ended Before sunrise the next
morning we had ''struck" camp and were
on the move, and all day long we broke the
stiffness with frequent discharges of our
Winchesters and SharpS rifles at the dis
tant antelope.
Just at dusk we drew up at Pinkham's
ranch, in North Park and were glad enough
to avail ourselves Of the Inequalities there
extended us. Every one slept Soundly that
night; the couches, rude as they were, being
a decided improvement over the bare ground
of the night before. At daybreak we were
again under way, and soon our first antelope
was brought down. Later on in the day we
encountered these creatures in large droves,
and apparently, as never before, manifested
no little curiosity, frequently waiting
until we were right among them before
starting, and then retreating only short
distance to stop and observe our movements.
We could have shot them as readily then as
sheep in barnfold. A few miles further
southwark, and we were in the very heart
of a game region. Elk, deer, antelope, wild
geese and ducks, sage hens and mountain
grouse, were seen day after day, untA we
were fairly surfeited with shooting, and for
change devoted ourselves to sightseeing.
After reaching the summit of the noun
talns and feaSting our vision for some hours
we began the descent, which was very diff
cult, inasmuch as falling rain froze as it fell.
took my cartridges from my Winchester,
fearing lest / might slip and discharge them.
When half way down the mountain we
reached small plateau in the center of
which was a clump of cottonwood trees.
| Ralph was perhaps three rods ahead and
Foley fifteen PAGES l turned from the
path to this clump of trees for moment,
| thinking perhaps l might start a cinnamon
bear. Judge of my dismay when a Rocky
Mountain lion suddenly sprang from the
| thicket, resting upon a broken tree not
| twenty feet away, and savagely glaring
upon me, apparently prepared to spring
| upon the intruder who had entered his lair.
| 1t was a most exciting moment. quickly
| brought my rifle to my shoulder, and aim
| ing between his eyes, drew the trigger to no
| effect. Again and again attempted to dis
charge the rifle, forgetting in the suspense
that the cartridges had been withdrawn. 1t
was, indeed, trying ordeal. If | stopped
NeAA u
and substitute another one, or, if | turned
and fed. the glaring creature, who looked
to me as big as a buffalo, would pounce
upon me and tear me to pieces in jiffy. |
did neither, but fortunately had sufficient
presence of mind remaining to whistle in a
low tone to Foley, just ahead. He turned,
and taking in the situation at a glance
quick as lightning flash, sent bullet
| through the animals heart. You look a
little pale, Mr. Judd" he exclaimed in hui
morous manner, as he quietly came back TO
me. 81 don't think you can blame anybody
for being pale under the Cir umstances."
responded. 1t was very fortunate for me
that had no bullet in my rifle; being in
such close proximity, should undoubtedly
J have shot high above the point aimed at,
| and barely grazed his skull, when the then
wounded and consequently Infatuated ami
NAL would have jumped and finished me in
short order On inspecting the surround
ings we found the remains of n antelope
close by, upon which the now dead "enemy"
had gorged himself l am told that when
near evening one of these mountain lions
delivers its peculiar roar the antelope for a
long distance are fairly terrorized and flee
for miles